It’s a show worth drinking to on Go Fact Yourself!

Eric Winter plays Sergeant Tim Bradford on the ABC series “The Rookie.” The show has earned a very dedicated audience, especially with kids. How does he know for sure? He’s seen them dress up as his character for Halloween.

Dree Hemingway is an actor who portrays Daryl Hannah in the FX show “Love Story.” She’ll tell us about how she reached out to the real life Daryl Hannah after she got the part. Plus we’ll learn more about her other job… as a fashion model. 

Areas of Expertise:

Eric: The movie The Breakfast Club, tennis, and rum.

Dree: The movie The Fifth Element, the movie Romeo + Juliet, and musician Kate Bush.

What’s the Difference: Maine Squeeze

What’s the difference between a harbor and a marina?

What’s the difference between squeeze and squish?

With Guest Experts:

Ben Schaffer: Publisher of online magazine “The Rum Reader” and author of several books about cocktails.  

Robert Mark Kamen: Screenwriter (and winemaker!) whose many works include the screenplay for The Fifth Element.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

From New York City, it’s Go Fact Yourself!

Seth Rudetsky is a musician, author, and Broadway savant who hosts afternoon radio on Sirius XM’s On Broadway channel. He’ll tell us about his Broadway cruise and why he believes in spreading “Jewish joy” through his weekly Broadway Shabbat.

Julie Klausner is an actor and writer who hosts the podcasts “How was Your Week?” and “Double Threat” with Tom Sharpling. Julie will tell us just how dedicated fans of those shows can be – plus about her professional (and personal) collaborations with Billy Eichner. 

Areas of Expertise:

Seth: Carly Simon songs, the TV show “The Brady Bunch Hour,” and natural disasters.

Julie: John Waters movies, Jewish celebrities, and cats. 

What’s the Difference: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste

What’s the difference between a mindset and a mentality?

What’s the difference between a person’s waist and their waistline?

With Guest Experts:

Sally Taylor: Singer-songwriter with a decades-long career– that includes working with her mother Carly Simon!

Ricki Lake: Emmy-winning TV host and actor who starred as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Surprised that there’s no new episode of Go Fact Yourself today? Worry not! We’ve got new episodes coming back to back for the next two weeks.

Plus, give the gift of GFY this holiday season! Check out our merch – including a holiday ornament – at MaxFunStore.com. 

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

**Come see our live-audience show at KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena on February 11! Reserve your seats now!**

Have an old friend for dinner and get ready for a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Brad Rutter has won more money on “Jeopardy!” than anyone in the history of the show, turning his knowledge into a trivia career, which includes ABC’s “The Chase.” What’s the secret to his trivia prowess? Turns out, it’s not studying! Brad will also tell us about how his career also led to becoming not-quite-best-friends with Catherine O’Hara.

Muffy Marracco has also turned her trivia prowess into a career – now on GSN’s “Master Minds.” Despite her TV game show fame, when she’s recognized these days, it’s for her quizzes on TikTok. She’ll tell us about some of her adventures on TV and why trivia is one of the only things she’s truly competitive about. And be careful, she’s ready to shank!

Our guests will answer trivia on movies about terror and teenagers. 

What’s the Difference: A Pair-a-"para"

What’s the difference between paranormal and supernatural?

What’s the difference between a paramedic and an EMT?

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Brad Rutter

Muffy Marracco

With Guest Experts

Wiley Wiggins: Artist, designer, and actor, who appeared as Mitch in the film Dazed and Confused.

Ed Saxon: Chair of USC’s graduate producing program who won a Best Picture Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

You’re on deep background for a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Mike Doughty is a singer-songwriter who’s written music as a solo artist and with the band “Ghost of Vroom.” He finds it easier to start songs than to finish them; so as an incentive to do better, he promised one new song a week for fans who support him on Patreon. He’ll tell us about that and why he would like exactly $35 for his work (sort of) appearing on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”

Ting Lim is a Singaporean comedian based in Brisbane, Australia. She’s fallen in love with the area because of the landscape and the generosity of her Australian audiences. The kindness that she’s found in her new home is a far cry from her experience in Singapore; she’ll tell us about how she got in trouble with the justice system for the crime of littering.

Our guests will answer trivia about freedom of the press and freedom of the whales.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Mike Doughty

Ting Lim

With Guest Experts

Jason James Richter, actor whose work includes starring in films in the Free Willy franchise.

Dr. Malena Simon, senior scientist at the Greenland Climate Research Centre

Bob Woodward, associate editor of the Washington Post who reported on the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LAby YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

You might just make it after all! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Rose Abdoo is an actor who you can see now in HBO’s “Hacks” and Hulu’s “Reboot.” Her acting aspirations began in college – thanks to how much she hated waiting in lines to register for classes. She’ll explain. Plus we’ll learn more about how seriously Rose takes her characters, from their backstories to their outfits.

Ben Gleib is a comedian who’s always looking for new ways to showcase himself. At the peak of the pandemic, he decided to create the world’s first virtual comedy venue at nowherecomedyclub.com. As much attention as that’s gotten him, he’s also got a secret talent that he’s equally proud of: being an expert at playing the kazoo. Ben’s new special is called “The Mad King.”

Our guests will answer trivia about music, music and even more music!

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Rose Abdoo

Ben Gleib

With Guest Experts:

Sonny Curtis, singer-songwriter, whose long career includes membership in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and writing and performing theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”

Paul Williams, Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer, singer, and actor who wrote the lyrics to the theme of “The Love Boat.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Places, everyone! It’s time to lift the curtain on the Best of Broadway special on Go Fact Yourself!

We’ve recently brought the podcast back to live audiences for the first time in two years! To celebrate, we’ve put the spotlight on some of our favorite past guests who love musicals and stage performances that were meant for live audiences. That includes guests like actors Rachel Bloom, Jessica McKenna, Eliza Skinner– and more!

Plus we’ve got an all-star cast of experts that includes Tony-winners, famed performers, and stand-out composers. Time to take the stage!

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Jessica McKenna from Episode 40

Rachel Bloom from Episode 59

Jade Cata-Pretta from Episode 64

Arden Myrin from Episode 65

Eliza Skinner from episode 67

With Guest Experts

Rory O’Malley, Tony Award-nominated actor who’s performed in the stage shows Hamilton and The Book of Mormon.

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, award-winning songwriters who’ve worked on Broadway and films, including Disney’s Frozen

Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tony-winning actor from the musical RENT

Lee Wilkof, Actor and originator of the role of Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.

Michel Cerveris, actor, singer and guitarist who’s won two Tony Awards.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LAby YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Cordon off the area, this an active trivia game show scene – on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Mike Petriello is a writer for MLB.com. He’s still buzzing from the fact that the baseball season happened – and that we got to see such a strong World Series match-up that included the sport’s newest villain. Mike will tell us how he’s made a career out of researching baseball statistics and analytics, and translating them into something that the average fan can understand. You can also hear Mike on the podcast “Ballpark Dimensions.”

Abbi Crutchfield is an actor and comedian. She collaborated with her husband and fellow comedian Luke Thayer on the podcast “The Kid is in School,” where they celebrate the freedom to chat again without a child in their house. Speaking of chatting, Abbi has a lot of thoughts about  all of the changes going on at Twitter, an app that she’s called her “Disneyland.”

Our guests will compete to answer trivia questions about the music and TV hits of the 1990s.

What’s the Difference: Strain

What’s the difference between force and pressure?

What’s the difference between a colander and a strainer?

Areas of Expertise:

Mike: James Bond movies, the best rock records of 1996, and dead sports teams.

Abbi: Nail polish, curly hair care, and the TV show “Murder She Wrote.”

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Mike Petriello

Abbi Crutchfield

With guest experts:

Louis Herthum, actor, whose career includes multiple roles in 25 episodes of “Murder She Wrote."

Chris Ballew, lead singer of The Presidents of the United States of America, and children’s music artist known as Casper Babypants.

Greg Graffin, lead singer of Bad Religion and author of the new book Punk Paradox

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Check out our NEW merch!

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Come to America and bring some new recipes with you – it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Greg Wyshynski is the Senior NHL writer for ESPN. He writes about hockey after a lifetime of being a fan of the sport; as such, he’s seen it change a lot over the years. While he thinks making changes for player safety should always be applauded, there’s a part of him that will always miss the fights on the ice. You can find more of Greg’s thoughts on hockey on the podcast “Puck Soup.”

Zainab Johnson is a comedian and actor. She can be seen on the Amazon Prime show “Upload,” where her character showcases the ability to succeed at some unorthodox sports. She’ll explain. Plus, she’ll tell us about the finer points of why getting booked in Hollywood hardly ever comes down to talent. 

Our guests will compete to answer trivia questions about diverse casts in movies and diverse dishes on cooking shows.

What’s the Difference: Health Food

What’s the difference between healthy and healthful?

What’s the difference between taste and a flavor?

Areas of Expertise:

Greg: The Food Network programming, Taco Bell, and the band The Smashing Pumpkins.

Zainab: The movie Coming to America, Lauryn Hill’s song “The Ex-Factor,” and traditional American breakfast foods.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Greg Wyshynski

Zainab Johnson

With guest experts:

John Landis, writer, producer and director of several films including Coming to America.

Alton Brown, Best-selling author and Peabody-winning host of several shows on “The Food Network”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our 

upcoming live shows in LA

 by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

** Come see us record LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 6! **

Avengers, Assemble – at the Center for Inquiry for a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Rob Corddry is perhaps best known for “Childrens Hospital,” the comedy show that he created and starred in. It was so well-received, it earned him four Emmy awards. But his first Emmy award actually came years earlier as part of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”... sort of. He’ll tell us about that and explain the skills he’s gathered as an Eagle Scout. 

Mimi Pond learned to love drawing early on from her dad and from some of her favorite comics. That led to her creating the graphic memoirs Over Easy and The Customer is Always Wrong. She’ll tell us about why she doesn’t have much patience for stick figures, and discuss the magic of Oakland, California. 

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about comic book characters on the page and small screen. 

What’s the Difference: Hall of Justice

What’s the difference between a hallway and a corridor?

What’s the difference between “illegal” and “unlawful”?

Areas of Expertise:

Rob: The TV show “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” the movie The Abyss, and CIA tradecraft

Mimi: Mad Magazine, Patty Hearst and shopping at Costco.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Rob Corddry

Mimi Pond

With guest experts:

Mark Evanier, blogger, comic book writer, and author of the book Mad Art : A Visual Celebration of the Art of Mad Magazine and the Idiots Who Create It Paperback.

&

Sergio Aragones, illustrator best known for his contributions to Mad Magazine and creating Groo The Wanderer.

Jed Whedon & Jeffrey Bell, two of the showrunners for “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Pour yourself a cup of ambition – it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Clinton Kelly is best known as one of the hosts of the TLC show “What Not to Wear.” For years he critiqued the outfits of others and helped them make better fashion choices. And even though he’s proud of the advice he’s given others, he says his attitude towards clothes has softened these days: If it feels good, wear it! He’ll also tell us about the process of writing his first novel. 

Jackie Fabulous is a comedian who got her big break on “America’s Got Talent.” Her performance was so impressive that it earned her a standing ovation and special show of affection from judge Simon Cowell. But she’ll tell us about how she still hasn’t earned praise from her entire family yet. Jackie is the host of the podcast “Relatable with Jackie Fabulous” and her stand-up special “Menoplause” is streaming now.

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about music, movies, and musicians-turned-movie stars.

What’s the Difference: Grateful Dead

What’s the difference between “thankful” and “grateful”?

What’s the difference between a corpse and a cadaver?

Areas of Expertise:

Jackie: Jennifer Lopez, early hip hop music, and immigration law.

Clinton: The movie 9 to 5, dinner etiquette, and 1980s parody pornography

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Clinton Kelly

Jackie Fabulous

With guest experts:

Patricia Resnick, Tony and BAFTA award nominated writer, whose credits include writing the original screenplay for 9 to 5.

Corey Rooney, Grammy-winning songwriter and music producer, whose work includes multiple hit records with Jennifer Lopez.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

What happens in Vegas will be recorded for a podcast – again! Once more, live from the Game Show Boot Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Amy Schneider has a 40 game win streak on “Jeopardy!” It’s the second-longest streak in the history of the show; and yet, she and her classmates in 8th grade predicted she would go on to appear on the show. Amy will tell us everything that went into her time as a trivia champion, including perfecting her buzzer technique. 

Brandon Blackwell is also a “Jeopardy!” winner. In fact, he’s competed in trivia all around the world. What’s the difference between winning a competition in the U.S. vs. winning one in the U.K.? It all comes down to the bottom line. Brandon will also tell us why understanding his physical limitations as a child led to his career in trivia. 

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about graduate-level science and high school-era TV shows.

What’s the Difference: Betting the Farm

What’s the difference between betting and gambling?

What’s the difference between a farm and a ranch?

Areas of Expertise:

Amy: The book Moby Dick, the Dutch war for independence, and theTV show “Daria”

Brandon: The Periodic Table, winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, and things Paulie Walnuts has said on the TV show “The Sopranos.”

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Amy Schneider

Brandon Blackwell

With guest experts:

Dr. Eric Scerri, UCLA professor and author of the book The Periodic Table: Its Story and its Significance.

Susie Lewis, Co-creator of the MTV series “Daria” 

Tracy Grandstaff, voice of Daria

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Viva Las Vegas! Live from the Game Show Boot Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

James Holzhauer is one of the all-time great “Jeopardy!” champions, racking up a 32-game win streak. It helped that he approached the game with his skills as a professional gambler. He’ll explain more about that and tell us about how he’s now banned from most casinos on the Las Vegas strip. You’ll also hear more about James’ charity work with Project 150 to help unhoused students in Las Vegas.

Victoria Groce is also a “Jeopardy!” champion and one of the only people whose trivia knowledge intimidates James. She’ll tell us about how her first day on “Jeopardy!” was part of a whirlwind of life changes that could only be fueled by tea and energy drinks. Plus we finally find where the worlds of trivia and knitting overlap

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about baseball, bargaining, and boys with violins.

What’s the Difference: Dealer’s Choice

What’s the difference between haggling and bargaining?

What’s the difference between a choice and a decision?

Areas of Expertise:

James: 1990s Major League Baseball, the NES game “Tecmo Super Bowl” and “The Simpsons” seasons one through eight.

Yesika: The movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, the musician Kishi Bashi, and celiac disease.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

James Holzhauer

Victoria Groce

With guest experts:

Kishi Bashi, musician and subject of the film Omoiyari.

Greg Maddux, Hall-of-Fame baseball player, who led the MLB in wins and Cy Young Awards in the 1990s.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s a home box office of trivia with Go Fact Yourself!

Ashly Burch is a YouTuber and comedian who was a recent guest on episode 177 of Go Fact Yourself. She joins us as co-host. 

Lilan Bowden is an actor, perhaps best known for her role in the Netflix series “Murderville.” She’s had an extensive career across film and TV. But she’s been especially affected by her Disney series “Andi Mack,” and how much the role endeared her to kids.

A Martinez is known by public radio listeners as the host of NPR’s Morning Edition. He’s been a part of public radio for years. But before that, he made his name (literally!) in the world of sports radio. That’s also where he learned some… unique interviewing skills. He’ll explain.

Areas of Expertise:

A: The TV show “Veep,” the movie New Jack City, and the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers

Lilan: The TV show “The Comeback,” the YouTube show “Ms. Rachel,” and The Jim Jones Cult aka “The People’s Temple”

What’s the Difference: Taylor Swift

What’s the difference between a tailor and a seamstress?

What’s the difference between fast and quick?

With Guest Experts:

Damian Young: Actor whose career includes playing Mark Berman on HBO’s “The Comeback”

Laura Silverman: Actor who played Jane Benson on HBO’s “The Comeback”

Matt Walsh: Actor and comedian who founded the Upright Citizens Brigade and received two Emmy nominations for his role as Mike McLintock in the series “Veep”

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Ashly Burch

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

This episode was edited by Valerie Moffat

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s time to have the time of your life on a brand new live-audience episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Drew Carey is no stranger to the world of game shows. In 2007 he became Bob Barkers’ successor as host of “The Price is Right.” He’ll tell us the special advice Bob gave him when he took over, and explain why he doesn’t expect to match the 50-year tenure of his predecessor. You can also hear Drew’s “Friday Night Freakout” weekly on Stevie Van Zandt’s Sirius XM channel “Little Steven’s Underground Garage.”

Yesika Salgado is a poet and activist, whose work has been featured in many publications. She also has a strong presence on social media. She’ll explain why she refers to her fans as “mangos” instead of “followers.” Plus, she’ll tell us about the secret science (and lack thereof) behind slam poetry.

This episode was produced in conjunction with KPCC and recorded live at the Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena.

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about dirty dancing to garage rock.

What’s the Difference: Home plate

What’s the difference between ceramic plates and porcelain plates?

What’s the difference between a “plate appearance” and an “at-bat” in baseball?

Areas of Expertise:

Drew: The movie The Producers, garage band rock, and Cleveland.

Yesika: The movie Dirty Dancing, the show “Sex in the City,” and Catholocism.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Drew Carey

Yesika Salgado

With guest experts:

Miranda Garrison, starred as Mrs. Pressman and worked as an assistant choreographer on Dirty Dancing.

Don Caverhill, rock musician, composer and producer – and original member of The Kingsmen.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live show in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

**Come see us LIVE in Las Vegas on August 21! Go to gofactyourpod.com/vegas for tickets!**

Prepare to run from the undead on this episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Alex Goldman just wrapped up eight years of hosting the podcast “Reply All.” Even though he’s naturally curious as a storyteller, he says he’s happy to finally have a break from the grind of his old show. Alex also has a lot of thoughts about how the culture of the internet has changed in the near-decade that he’s been podcasting and what his next project might be.

Liz Miele has been a comedian since she was 16. She says that the secret to going for the job at such an early age is not having friends. But she still had to deal with performing in a lot of venues that she wasn’t legally allowed to spend too much time in, like bars and strip clubs. Liz’s new special “The Ghost of Academic Future” will be available on September 6th, and her book Why Cats are A**holes is available now.

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about medicine, marathons and monsters.

What’s the Difference: Doctor Doctor!

What’s the difference between a doctor and a physician?

What’s the difference between a PhD student and PhD candidate?

Areas of Expertise:

Alex: The Evil Dead movie franchise, 90s indie rock in Southeastern Michigan, and early hip-hop.

Liz: Rom-coms with Meg Ryan, marathon running and training, and taking care of curly hair.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Alex Goldman

Liz Miele

With guest experts:

Des Linden, two-time US Olympian, world-record holder in the 50k, and winner of the Boston Marathon.

Bruce Campbell, prolific actor, author and producer who played Ash in the Evil Dead franchise.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Sending friends to see us in Las Vegas by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

No new episode this week, but here's a reminder of our upcoming live shows:

August 14th in Pasadena: It's Drew Carey vs. Yesika Salgado.

August 21st in Las Vegas: James Holzhauer vs Victoria Groce and Brandon Blackwell vs Amy Schneider

Get info and tickets at gofactyourpod.com/liveshows

(If anyone asks the Secret Number is 12.)

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

**Come see us LIVE in Pasadena and Las Vegas! Go to gofactyourpod.com for tickets!**

We’re playing the hits this week on Go Fact Yourself! 

Audie Cornish made a name for herself as a longtime host on NPR. In January, she decided she was ready for a new challenge: producing audio and television content for CNN. She’ll tell us about some of the bumps in the road of her new journey and tell us the secret to conducting a good interview. Audie’s upcoming podcast will appear on CNN Audio.

Chrisitan Finnegan is a comedian who made his mark by making fun of celebrities on TV – an industry that he says has completely tanked thanks to Twitter. Christian has a new special out now called “Show Your Work.” He explains that it’s one part stand-up special and one part documentary about keeping an independent venue alive in the middle of a pandemic

Our contestants will have a trivia battle about classic comedy and masters of music.

What’s the Difference: Broken Down!

What’s the difference between “biodegradable” and “compostable”?

What’s the difference between “fix” and “repair”?

Areas of Expertise:

Audie: ‘60s-’70s Vintage Stax Records, Ethan Hawke movies, and Dystopias.

Christian: 1980s MTV, the 1993-2022 New York Knicks basketball teams, and the movie Better Off Dead.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Audie Cornish

Chrisitan Finnegan

With guest experts:

Diane Franklin, actor, who’s appeared in several iconic movies, including The Last American Virgin and Better Off Dead.

Sam Moore, the legendary “Soul Man,” and one part of Sam & Dave, whose long career includes several enormous hits with Stax Records

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Continuing to be vigilant about COVID by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

No new episode this week, but listen up for details on our LIVE-audience shows in Pasadena and Las Vegas! Get tickets and info at gofactyourpod.com

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s the return of in-person live audiences on Go Fact Yourself! 

Larry Wilmore has been seen in everything from “The Office,” “Black-ish,” “The Nightly Show,” and so much more. He’ll tell us how his illustrious career as an actor started on “The Facts of Life,” where he played a Greek cop. As he’s built up his body of work, he’s developed a passion for conversations and (well-intentioned) disagreements. You can hear some of those on his podcast “Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air.”

Denise Crosby is best known for her portrayal of Security Chief Tasha Yar on “Star Trek.” She’s also known for her role on “The Walking Dead” where she played a mother… who happened to be a cannibal. She’ll tell us about that and what it was like to pose for “Playboy” magazine in the 80s.

Our contestants will have a trivia battle about music from across the pond and swimming down the pool!

What’s the Difference: Coax

What’s the difference between “convince” and “persuade”?

What’s the difference between “Diet Coke” and “Coke Zero Sugar”?

Areas of Expertise:

Larry: Beatles lyrics, the original Star Wars trilogy, and the Showtime era of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Denise: Pitbulls, the movie Airport, and how to make the perfect flip-turn at the wall while swimming.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Larry Wilmore

Denise Crosby

With guest experts:

Peter Asher, multiple Grammy-winning producer, guitarist and singer.

Kimberly Vandenberg, Olympic medalist swimmer with team USA.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

This episode was produced in conjunction with KPCC and recorded live at the Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Continuing to be vigilant about COVID by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s OCD vs. DVD on a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Richard Kind is an award-winning actor who’s appeared in movies, television and even on Broadway – but for a long time, he thought acting would be his extracurricular activity. He decided to try his hand at becoming a lawyer before a family friend finally convinced him to dip his toe into show business. That’s led to an extensive and memorable career – including an appearance on “Celebrity Jeopardy” that he’s still not over. 

Julia Longoria is a reporter and an expert on audio storytelling. As host of the podcasts “The Experiment” and “More Perfect,” she’s produced tons of stories about the culture and politics of the United States. That includes what she considers one of the most significant parts of the country’s backstory: Spam. The next season of “More Perfect” will launch in 2023.

What’s the Difference: Friendship

What’s the difference between “amicable” and “amiable”?

What’s the difference between “aboard” and “onboard”?

Areas of Expertise:

Richard: “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” Michael Connelly books, and the Second City comedy theater.

Julia: The TV show “Monk,” Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s personal life, and outside missteps in Miami.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Richard Kind

Julia Longoria

With guest experts:

Jason Gray-Stanford, actor and podcaster who appeared in all eight seasons of “Monk.”

Larry Mathews, actor whose decades-long career includes playing Richard Petrie on “The Dick Van Dyke Show”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Continuing to be vigilant about COVID by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

TV & film genres abound on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Karama Horne is a writer and geek influencer. She’s also the host of “The Blerd Gurl Podcast” and the weekly “Blerd Gurl Live” on Twitch. A “Blerd” is a black nerd, and it’s not just a self-identification; Karama has spent a lot of time looking for other black people who are fans of the things she loves. Karama’s upcoming book Black Panther: Protectors of Wakanda is available for pre-order now. 

Mo Rocca is an Emmy-winning correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning.” He’s known for being well-versed in a variety of very specific subjects (“obscure presidential history,” anyone?). He also has a lifelong fascination with obituaries. You can learn more about that in his podcast and book on the subject, both titled “Mobituaries.” Oh, and he met the Pope!

Our guests will answer trivia on stories of dystopian futures and oil-rich pasts. 

What’s the Difference: Sleeping pills

What’s the difference between being tired and feeling fatigued?

What’s the difference between a dose and dosage?

Areas of Expertise:

Mo: TV shows of 1982, Barbara Streisand before 1985, and Chanel’s best selling fragrances of 1992.

Karama: The anime “Ghost in the Shell,” the K-Pop group Shinee, and mason jars.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Mo Rocca

Karama Horne

With guest experts:

Richard Epcar and Crispin Freeman: prolific voice actors whose roles include the lead roles in the anime “Ghost in the Shell.”

Charlene Tilton and Joan Van Ark: actors whose many accomplishments include playing mother and daughter on the TV show “Dallas,” its reboot, and its spin-off.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Continuing to be vigilant about COVID by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Go Fact Yourself returns to a live audience! Join us on Saturday June 18th at KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena. Tickets are free!

It’s a wickedly good morphin’ time on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Jeff Hiller is an actor and comedian who’s latest work is on HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere.” He considers the role a special one; in addition to his character sharing a lot of his interests and personality traits, it’s the first time that he’s gotten to portray a person who’s likable! Plus we’ll learn more about his work with Shakespeare in the Park… and his cat’s instagram page.

Krystina Arielle made a name for herself by cosplaying as some of her favorite franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. She knew eventually that her fandom would lead her to working in these universes as a professional– which she does now! You can hear her latest webseries about the Star Wars: The High Republic book series on StarWars.com.

Our guests will answer trivia about teenage superheroes and misunderstood villains.

What’s the Difference: Bed Bugs

What’s the difference between the standard sizes of a King bed and a California King bed?

What’s the difference between an insect and a bug?

Areas of Expertise:

Jeff: The musical Wicked, the movie Soapdish, and public health response to HIV prevention in traditionally high risk groups, but only in the 80s and 90s.

Krystina: The TV show “One Tree Hill,” the film Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie, and the feud between Pumas and Adidas sneakers. 

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Jeff Hiller

Krystina Arielle

With guest experts:

Steve Cardenas, martial artist, musician and actor whose body of work includes playing the red Power Ranger in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie.

Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz, award-winning writers of the book, music, lyrics, and screenplay of the musical Wicked.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Continuing to be vigilant about COVID by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Go Fact Yourself is returning to a live audience! Join us on Saturday June 18th at KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena. Tickets are free!

Get your Krusty Burgers and Duff beer ready– it’s an accidental "Simpsons" theme episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Nancy Cartwright has been the voice of Bart Simpson for more than 30 years. It’s the highlight of her extensive career as a voice actor that includes characters on shows like “Kim Possible,” “Rugrats,” and so many more. She’ll tell us about her career and her beloved backyard chicken coop. An updated version of Nancy’s book “I’m Still a 10-Year-Old Boy” is available now as an audiobook on Audible.

Al Jean worked on “The Simpsons” as a writer and executive producer for more than three decades. He became the showrunner during the third season, a position he still holds today. He’ll tell us about how the show has evolved over the years, from the Disney purchase of Fox to recording with actors over Zoom. 

Our guests will answer trivia about the fine art of glass painting and baseball.

What’s the Difference: Family Jewels!

What’s the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin, once removed?

What’s the difference between a jewel and a gem?

Areas of Expertise:

Nancy: Fellini’s movie La Strada, reverse painting technique, and punctuation & grammar.

Al: Emmy-winning sitcoms since 1970, Detroit Tigers baseball statistics, and American presidents.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Nancy Cartwright

Al Jean

With guest experts:

Dr. Karli Wurzelbacher, Curator of the Heckscher Museum of Art, and the author of several papers and articles about reverse painting, including one in the Journal of Glass Studies.

Darrell Evans, two-time All-Star, a home run champion and World Series champion with the Detroit Tigers!

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Continuing to be vigilant about COVID by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s time to go to the polls with Go Fact Yourself! It’s a collection of some of our favorite trivia segments that feature politicians as experts.

In this episode:

Peter Sagal and Rebecca Makkai from ep. 45.

Helen Zaltzman and Lewis Black from ep. 79.

Antonio Villaraigosa from ep. 164.

Kitty Felde and Charlie Hankin from ep. 51.

Parker Molloy and Kevin Allison from ep. 99.

Matt Rogers and Mimi Rogers from ep. 178.

With Guest Experts:

Gov. Madeleine May Kunin, author, ambassador and three-term governor of Vermont.

Charlie Uhrig, former mayor of Solvang, California

Kermit Roosevelt III, professor at University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School.

Senator Barbara Boxer, representing California in the United States Senate from 1993 to 2017.

Rep. Laura Gillen: United States Congresswoman serving New York’s fourth district.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It's #MaxFunDrive time!

Support this show for as little as $5 a month and earn great gifts! Go to Maximumfun.org/join. You can also boost your membership for as little as $1/month!

Plus… YOU could be a guest on the show!

All new, upgrading, and boosting members can opt in to play in our tournament, whose winners get to record a mini-episode of Go Fact Yourself!

And listen for details on our stretch goals for even more opportunities. 

THANK YOU for supporting our show. We literally couldn't do it without members of MaxFun. Hopefully that includes YOU.

Will you please join, upgrade, or boost at maximumfun.org/join?

Grab the burger of the day and switch on the cable TV – it's a new episode of Go Fact Yourself! In honor of week two of the #MaxFunDrive, we’re joined by two more hosts from the Maximum Fun Network! 

Travis McElroy is part of the brotherly trio behind the hit shows “My Brother, My Brother and Me” and “The Adventure Zone.” In fact, he and his brothers were so successful that they eventually decided to write the book on podcasting: Everybody Has a Podcast (Except You).

Travis also co-hosts the podcast “Shmanners” with his wife, Teresa McElroy. Together they explore the history and applications of etiquette. That includes finding the origins of idioms like “letting the cat out of the bag” which they’re happy to share with us today.

What’s the Difference: Couples Therapy!

What’s the difference between a couple and a pair?

What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Areas of Expertise:

Travis: The songs of Dave Matthews Band, 1990s Nickelodeon TV shows, and job interviews.

Teresa: The TV Show “Bob’s Burgers,” the movie Ratatouille, and loading the dishwasher.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Travis McElroy

Teresa McElroy

With guest experts:

Wendy & Lizzie Molyneux, Emmy-winning writers/producers on “Bob’s Burgers”

Dan Mintz, voice of Tina Belcher on “Bob’s Burgers”

Marc Summers, Emmy-nominated producer and host of several classic shows, including Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Supporting MaxFunDrive by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Sit your booty on the floor or in a chair for a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! In honor of #MaxFunDrive, we’re joined by two hosts from the Maximum Fun Network! 

If you’d like to support this show for as little as $5 a month and earn great gifts in the process, go to Maximumfun.org/join.

John Hodgman is the namesake of the “Judge John Hodgman” podcast. On the show, he plays the role of a judge who hears litigants’ disputes and decides who’s right and who’s wrong. John will tell us about what it’s like being a fake judge on the internet and about his role on the animated FXX series “Dicktown.”

Danielle Radford is one of the hosts on MaxFun’s pro wrestling podcast “Tights and Fights.” Professional wrestling doesn’t have the best reputation for… much of anything really. But Danielle and her fellow hosts have tried to create a space for everyone who’s ever loved the art form, but rarely felt like it loved them back. Plus: find out about Danielle’s life as a paralegal!

Our guests will go deep with trivia on comics, kids and comedy.

What’s the Difference: Ice Ice Baby!

What’s the difference between icing and frosting?

What’s the difference between a baby and an infant?

Areas of Expertise:

John: Cryptozoology, The Legion of Super-Heroes comic series, and Maine.

Danielle: Early 1990s Nickelodeon sitcoms and sketch shows, the video game Mortal Kombat, and Seattle.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

John Hodgman

Danielle Radford

With guest experts:

Paul Levitz, Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning writer and editor, who was president of DC Comics and wrote The Legion of Super-Heroes for over a decade.

Lori Beth Denberg, actor, comedian, wedding officiant, and podcaster... who was an original cast member on the Nickelodeon sketch show “All That!”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Supporting 

MaxFunDrive

 by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

No full episode this week, but there are exciting things coming up in the world of Go Fact Yourself!

MaxFun Drive is from April 25th to May 6th. On April 29th and May 6th there will be back-to-back episodes of GFY featuring contestants from other MaxFun shows – plus all the great special experts that you would expect.

Not only that, but MaxFun Members can look forward to an exclusive bonus episode of Go Fact Yourself featuring the hosts of “Dr. Gameshow!”

Finally, Go Fact Yourself is returning to a live audience! It’s happening at the Los Angeles area public radio station KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum. For free tickets go to KPCC.org/gofactyourselflive.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Becoming a Max Fun Member by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Hold your loved ones close because it’s a wonderful trivia life on a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Rabia Chaudry is a really accomplished journalist, author and attorney. But she may be best known for her advocacy for incarcerated individuals to receive better assistance in the justice system – topics covered on her popular podcast “Undisclosed” and book, Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice after Serial. She’ll tell us what it’s been like to help out so many people… and some of the other less serious projects that she’s also been a part of. Rabia’s upcoming book is entitled Fatty Fatty Boom Boom.

Adam Richman is a TV host whose work has famously centeredl around food. He’ll tell us about how he got his start on the show “Man v. Food.” where he tackled monstrous meals and described the experience for the audience. That opened the door for him to host the shows “Modern Marvels” and “Adam Eats the 80s” where he helps tell the human stories behind meals.

Our guests will answer questions about family corporate dramas and family Christmas classics.

What’s the Difference: Pay Your Taxes

What’s the difference between tax evasion and tax avoidance?

What’s the difference between a tax credit and a tax rebate?

Areas of Expertise

Rabia: The West Memphis Three, The TV Show “Succession,” and Punjabi Food.

Adam: The 1998 France World Cup Soccer Team, The movie It’s a Wonderful Life, and Traditional Jewish food.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Rabia Chaudry

Adam Richman

With guest experts:

David Rasche, award-winning actor, with a long career on Broadway, film and TV... including playing Karl on “Succession.”

Karolyn Grimes, actor and author, whose many credits include playing Jimmy Stewart’s younger daughter Zuzu in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Supporting hangmanfilm.com by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Turn the lights down… the show is about to start! It’s the “Best of Movies” special of Go Fact Yourself, featuring new behind-the-scenes commentary!

The movie industry has adapted a lot in the past two years, and so has our show. These clips are back when we recorded with a live audience (something we plan to do again this year!).

You’ll hear from guests like Paul F. Tompkins, Cristela Alonzo, Anthony Rapp, and many more as they discuss films like The Goonies, Jaws and Young Frankenstein.

Roll film!

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Cristela Alonzo guest host from Episode 40

Pamela Ribon from Episode 3

Jason Kravits from Episode 7

Paul F Tompkins from Episode 15

Allie Goertz from Episode 36

Anthony Rapp from Episode 40

With guest experts:

Jeff B. Cohen, Former Goonie and Co-founder of the entertainment law firm Cohen Gardner LLP.

Danny Goldman, Actor who appeared in Young Frankenstein.

Carl Gotlieb, Screenwriter of Jaws and author of The Jaws Log.

Penelope Spheeris, director of films such as The Decline of Western Civilization parts 1, 2 and 3 and Wayne’s World.

Stephen Park, actor who’s known for his performances in the films Fargo and Do the Right Thing.

Helen Hong, comedian and actress who appeared in the film Inside Llewyn Davis and who’s the regular co-host of Go Fact Yourself!

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Supporting hangmanfilm.com by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s the freshest podcast on the shelf – the 100th episode of Go Fact Yourself!  #GFY100

You can WATCH the unedited archived video of this episode from our livestream with KPCC public radio. 

DJ Jazzy Jeff is a DJ legend and hip-hop pioneer. He’s produced tons of hits over the years– including the theme song for the show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” on which he also played a role as himself. Now the show has been reimagined as “Bel-Air” on Peacock, with another actor playing Jazz. He’ll tell us about what it’s like to see someone play him on screen and how he’s trying to help the next generation of DJs.

Faith Salie is a multiple Emmy-winning contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning.” She’s also a regular panelist on the show “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” where she gets to show off her competitive spirit. She’ll tell us about how her love of winning goes all the way back to trying to win her high school pageant. You can hear Faith on her new podcast “Broadway Revival.”

Our guests join us on our 100th episode to talk about rap, Broadway and the best treats to celebrate a major occasion.

What’s the Difference: Weight-ingTo Exhale

What’s the difference between weight and mass?

What’s the difference between breathing and respiration?

Areas of Expertise:

Jeff: The early days of hip-hop (pre-1985), the ‘82-’83 Philadelphia 76ers NBA championship season, and how to make popcorn.

Faith: The Lincoln Memorial, the musical Sunday in the Park with George and Coca-Cola cake

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

DJ Jazzy Jeff

Faith Salie

With guest experts:

James Lapine, director, playwright, screenwriter and librettist who’s won a Peabody and multiple Tony Awards. Author of the book Putting it Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created “Sunday in the Park with George.”

Darryl McDaniels, a founding member of Run DMC and Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Mask-upgrading by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

NOTE: We’ve renumbered all of our shows to accurately reflect all of the bonus episodes we’ve done. Look forward to our 100th episode next month!

It’s third down and goal to go for a trivia touchdown on Go Fact Yourself!

Meg Rowley is managing editor of Fangraphs, and a host of the baseball podcast “Effectively Wild.” She’s endeared herself as an authority on all things baseball, from analytics to the bodily functions of the players. In addition to America’s pastime, she’ll tell us more about why she thinks Arizona is a very underrated state. 

Wajahat Ali is a columnist for The Daily Beast. He’s just released a new book Go Back to Where You Came From (And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American). He’ll tell us about how the book was inspired by some of the less helpful recommendations he’s gotten over the years. Plus, he’ll explain why being a lawyer isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. 

Our guests will talk about ball games both on the field and on the diamond.

What’s the Difference: Knot Again!

What’s the difference, when sailing, between a knot and a nautical mile?

What’s the difference between Recurring and Reoccurring?

Areas of Expertise:

Meg: The 2013 Seattle Seahawks football team, The 1999 version of the movie The Mummy, and Nora Ephron.

Wajahat: The 2021 San Francisco 49ers football team, 1980s and 90s Stand-up comedians, and Famous brown people.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Moujan Zolfaghari

Meg Rowley

Wajahat Ali

With guest experts:

Jon Ryan, member of the Super Bowl-winning 2013 Seattle Seahawks football team.

Paula Poundstone, award-winning comedian, best-selling author, and host of the podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Mask-upgrading by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

*****
Come see us LIVE (on video) for our 100th show celebration! Livestreamed on Wednesday, February 16 at 6pm PST. Scheduled guests DJ Jazzy Jeff & Faith Salie! Get your FREE tickets at bit.ly/GFY100 and brought to you by public radio station KPCC!
*****

Hey! What a wonderful kind of day! To get along with a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Simon Adler is senior producer for the hit show Radiolab. He recently wrapped up a documentary series for the show all about cassette tapes – what he says led to some of the earliest examples of on-demand audio throughout the world. Then, he’ll tell us about how to use film techniques when working with sound and the secret to making a great podcast.

Sophie Saint Thomas is a writer, whose pieces about sex and drugs have appeared in publications like GQ, Vice and Forbes. She’ll explain how the first time she pitched an article about sex got her kicked off of her school newspaper. Plus, she’ll tell us more about the magic that is goth karaoke.

Our guests will answer trivia about adult relationships and children’s television.

What’s the Difference: Holy Water!

What’s the difference between “holy” and “sacred?”

What’s the difference between an ocean and a sea?

Areas of Expertise:

Sophie: The movie True Romance, David Bowie’s “Berlin” trilogy, and Ketamine.

Simon: Mario Kart 64, The PBS TV show “Arthur” and the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Simon Adler

Sophie Saint Thomas

With guest experts:

Saul Rubinek, award-winning actor, writer, producer, and director, whose many credits

include the movie True Romance!

Marc Brown, Author and illustrator of the Arthur book series and executive producer of the PBS television series based on the books.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Mask-upgrading by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s time to celebrate love, both true and tragic, on a brand new Go Fact Yourself!

Hari Kondabolu is a comedian. He got a lot of attention for his film The Problem with Apu, where he pointed out the issues he had with the character Apu on “The Simpsons.” Even though he also got a lot of expected negative responses to the film, he’ll tell us why some of the reactions left him pretty confused. Hari’s standup special “Warn Your Relatives” is available now on Netflix. 

Sofie Hagen is also a comedian who’s worked all over the world. She’ll tell us why behavior that that she learned in Denmark led to her being unintentionally rude when she moved to England. Plus, she breaks down why she’s such a strong advocate for fat liberation (not to be confused with body positivity). Sofie is also the voice behind the podcasts “Who Hurt You?” and “Bad People”

Our guests will answer trivia about foreign languages, foreign audiences and inaccurate portrayals of foreign characters. 

What’s the Difference: Upstairs Maid

What’s the difference, when referring to a building, between a story and a floor?

What’s the difference between made of and made from?

Areas of Expertise:

Hari: The film Untamed Heart, the Hindu epic Ramaya, and the band Weezer before the “green album”

Sofie: The Danish film Kærlighed På Film, the musical Phantom of the Opera, and the Irish boyband Westlife

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Hari Kondabolu

Sofie Hagen

With guest experts:

Tony Bill and Tom Sierchio, director and writer of the film Untamed Heart.

Sierra Boggess, Broadway actor and singer, who played Christine in Phantom of the Opera and its sequel.

Charles Hart, Lyricist of the musical “Phantom of the Opera” and its sequel.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Mask-upgrading by YOU.

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Vote YES for a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Kevin Allison is best known as creator and host of the podcast “RISK!” The show is all about encouraging people to tell stories that they never thought they’d share in public. He’ll tell us why people want to share some of their biggest secrets – and how more than one person’s secret involves cannibalism.

Parker Molloy is a writer, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast and more. But she’s also been described as “Everyone’s first Twitter follow.” She’ll tell us where that moniker came from and explain why she has so much love for her life in Chicago.

Our guests will answer questions about princes, new girls and boxers.

What’s the Difference: All Wet

What’s the difference between a liquid and a fluid?

What’s the difference between a submarine and a submersible?

Areas of Expertise:

Kevin: The Tao Te Ching, ADHD, and Prince’s House Party Playlist.

Parker: Musicians on the Saddle Creek Records label, Chicago Cubs baseball from 1991-2021, and U.S. Senate 2000-2021.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Kevin Allison

Parker Molloy

With guest experts:

Dave Finkel, executive producer and show-runner of the TV show “New Girl.” 

Steve Welch, editor of the Prince episode of “New Girl.”

Senator Barbara Boxer, representing California in the United States Senate from 1993 to 2017.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

After an extensive competition amongst our MaxFun Members, it all culminates in the 2024(ish) Listener Tournament Finals – a new episode of Go Fact Yourself! 

(Do YOU want to be a guest on the show? Make sure to support us in the 2026 MaxFunDrive and stay tuned for our next Listener Tournament!)

Khalil Goodman is a photographer who works in public communications in Barbados. He also loves cosplay and will tell us about some of his favorite characters that he’s encountered – plus, what it would take to get people to cosplay as the hosts of this show.

Kristen Pilotte is a government contractor and aerospace engineer. She’ll tell us about how she’s joining us while she’s on call for very important space-related work. We’ll also learn more about how some of her upcoming projects involve humans in space. And of course, cats!

Areas of Expertise:

Khalil: The animated TV series “X-Men ‘97,” the band Garbage, and the work of Agatha Christie.

Kristen: The “Duck Tales” videogame, the US manned space program, and the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.”

What’s the Difference: Mind your Manners

What’s the difference between etiquette and manners?

What’s the difference between a cause of death and a manner of death?

With Guest Experts:

Isaac Robinson-Smith, Holly Chou and Alison Sealy-Smith: Voice actors whose work includes playing characters on the series “X-Men ‘97.”

Dr. Don Thomas: Author, engineer, educator, and astronaut.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next 

live-audience shows

 by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Stand en pointe and tune up that guitar – it’s a high-art filled episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Alicia Coppola is an actor, seen in shows like “Jericho” and “Why Women Kill.” But her career on camera actually began as part of a game show: MTV’s “Remote Control,” where she learned so much from people like Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn… including some experiences she never thought she’d need to go through. You can hear Alicia Coppola on her podcast “Bootstrap Bitch.”

Alicia is joined by her former on-screen husband from “Why Women Kill,” comedian and actor Adam Ferrara. Alicia has also been a guest on “The Adam Ferrara Podcast,” which Adam says is all about him and his friends trying to be better people. How’s that going? Not so well… but he’ll tell us why he doesn’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. 

Our guests will answer questions about classic dance, classic rock, and the heroes who helped make them happen. 

What’s the Difference: Country Bumpkin!

What’s the difference between straw and hay?

What’s the difference between a bump and a lump?

Areas of Expertise:

Alicia: The movie The Turning Point, high-end luxury handbags, and the TV shows “The Real Housewives” of New York and  Beverly Hills.

Adam: The Stephen Pressfield book The War of Art, The Who’s album Who’s Next, and The Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Kitty Felde

Alicia Coppola

Adam Ferrara

With guest experts:

Leslie Browne: dancer, teacher, and actor who earned an Oscar nomination for her

film debut in The Turning Point.

Ethan Russell, legendary rock-and-roll photographer and Glyn Johns, legendary rock-and-roll producer & engineer – both seen in The Beatles Get Back documentary!

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

A 14-letter phrase for a trivia podcast: It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Jaret Reddick is best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the band Bowling for Soup. Between his band and the theme song for  “Phineas & Ferb,” his music has been a fixture for children -- but so has his iconic role as the voice of Chuck E. Cheese. You can hear more of Jaret’s voice in his podcasts “Jaret Goes to the Movies'' and “Rockstar Dad.”

Jaret’s opponent is Time magazine journalist Molly Ball. She’s known for her political scoops and her book about Nancy Pelosi, but Molly got involved in covering politics almost entirely by accident. Plus, she’ll tell us about what it was like to win big money on the show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

Our guests will answer trivia about comedy, crosswords, scents and censorship!

What’s the Difference: Something Stinks!

What’s the difference between a scent and an odor?

What’s the difference between “instinctive” and “instinctual”?

Areas of Expertise:

Jaret: John Hughes movies, The band Mötley Crüe, and comedian George Carlin.

Molly: Crossword puzzles, The life and works of the American poet James Merrill, and The 1990s Colorado Rockies baseball team.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Jaret Reddick

Molly Ball

With guest experts:

Kelly Carlin, writer, performer, producer and radio host and author of the book A Carlin Home Companion,

Will Shortz, founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament and

Puzzle Editor of the New York Times since 1993.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

We’re on our way to where the air is sweet on a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Jackson Galaxy is the host of the TV show “My Cat From Hell.” On the show, he showcases his skills as an expert on cat behavior to help people better understand their problematic kitties. These days he can’t go into anyone’s home, but he’s learned how to share his special tips over Zoom. Here’s a big one: Don’t stack litter boxes on top of each other!

Jackson’s opponent is comedian Shalewa Sharpe. She’s been seen on Comedy Central, the podcast “2 Dope Queens,” and on a viral video from “The Tonight Show” where she shared her love of the movie Black Panther… before being surprised by an appearance from Chadwick Boseman! You can hear Shalewa on her podcast “The War Report.”

Our guests will answer questions about big cats, big books and Big Bird!

What’s the Difference: Must I?

What’s the difference between odors that are musty and musky?

What’s the difference between “obligated” and “obliged?”

Areas of Expertise:

Jackson: Rock n Roll music from 1974-1977, the TV show “Outlander,” and the upper West Side of New York

Shalewa: The Rock Band “The Breeders,” the TV show “Sesame Street,” and shopping for plus-size clothing online.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Jackson Galaxy

Shalewa Sharpe

With guest experts:

Diana Gabaldon, author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times-bestselling Outlander novels.

Emilio Delgado, actor, voice artist, and singer, whose many credits include playing Luis on

“Sesame Street” for 44 years!

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Practice that evil laugh -- it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Saladin Ahmed is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer who prides himself on showcasing truly lived-in worlds. He says that whether you're writing a story set in the Marvel universe or Detroit, the little details matter. But he’s also helped affect things in our world too -- like when he helped call out some racist art on a box of Corn Pops. You can find Saladin’s creator-owned imprint at copperbottle.net.

Talia Lavin’s writing has appeared in The New Yorker and The Washington Post. But her most well-known work may be the viral joke that she made as a contestant on “Jeopardy.” That wasn’t the only time she took a big risk either; she’ll tell us about the time that she catfished a white supremacist dating site. Talia’s book about that adventure, Culture Warlords, is available now. 

Our guests will face off in a trivia battle about timeless nerdy inspirations.

What’s the Difference: Pain in the Butt

What’s the difference between “tortuous” and “torturous?”

What’s the difference in the function of the anus and the rectum?

Areas of Expertise:

Saladin: Mythological monsters, 20th Century American poetry, and action figure cartoons of the 1980s

Talia: The TV show “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” author Terry Pratchett, and the “Monkey Island” video games

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Saladin Ahmed

Talia Lavin

With guest experts:

Alan Oppenheimer, actor, who has appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies for over six decades -- including as Skeletor!

Denise Crosby, actor and producer whose numerous film and television roles include playing

Lieutenant Tasha Yar (and her daughter) on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Go Fact Yourself and Depresh Mode with John Moe got together to celebrate MaxFun Block Party!

If you enjoyed this conversation we had with host John Moe, be sure to subscribe to Depresh Mode with John Moe on maximumfun.org.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Listener beware, you’re in for a scare -- It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Roxane Gay is an award-winning writer and culture critic. Her books and blogs feature tons of biting insight that’s endeared her to millions of readers. Her best advice for aspiring professional writers? Be relentless. She’ll explain that and why she still has blind spots when people ask her for the answers to their problems. You can also see Roxane’s writing in her newsletter, “The Audacity.”

Ricky Duran is a singer-songwriter who first made a name for himself on the NBC show "The Voice" in 2019. The show is all about joining up with one of four professional musicians to both win the show and help with your career. Ricky will tell us what he got from his mentor, Blake Shelton who still helps him to this day! Ricky’s new single “Waiting on You” is available now.  

Our guests will answer trivia questions about childhood movies that could thrill, chill and delight!

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 74174.

What’s the Difference: Sure Shot

What’s the difference between “ensure” and “insure"?

What’s the difference (to a bartender) between a jigger and a shot?

Areas of Expertise:

Roxane: 1990s hip-hop, the movie Pretty Woman, and the fictional world of Clive Cussler novels.

Ricky: Slasher movies, planets of our solar system, and Jimi Hendrix.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Roxane Gay

Ricky Duran

With guest experts:

Heather Langenkamp, award-winning actor and producer, whose many credits include playing the lead character in A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Laura San Giacomo, award-winning actor, whose many credits include the shows “NCIS,” “Just Shoot Me,” and the film Pretty Woman.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here -- It’s a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Bridger Winegar is a writer and podcaster who’s worked on shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Since he started as a Production Assistant, he knows the early parts of show business are pretty thankless; so he does his best to be helpful to those just starting out-- even if he’s sometimes a little too helpful. He’ll tell us all about that and why it was hard to interview his former boss on his podcast “I Said No Gifts!”

Ginny Hogan is a comedian whose writing has appeared in The Atlantic and The New Yorker. Between her writing and her work in the condiment industry, you could say she’s done it all… so why can’t she use her real name as her twitter account? Her greatest accomplishment might be her research blog where she analyzed the profiles from all of her online dates and discovered some startling revelations about herself. Ginny's scripted podcast “Yes We Mustard” is available on Audible. 

Our guests will answer trivia questions about great music of the 1990s and a great show of the 2000s!

What’s the Difference: Minnie Driver!

What’s the difference between “small” and “little”?

What’s the difference between all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive?

Areas of Expertise:

Bridger: The movie Clifford 1990s Power Pop, and Utah Cuisine

Ginny: The TV show “Gilmore Girls,” The history of Facebook, and Sobriety Memoirs

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Bridger Winegar

Ginny Hogan

With guest experts:

Dan Wilson, Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and performer, who helped lead the 1990s power pop movement with Semisonic.

Keiko Agena, actor, from “Gilmore Girls,” whose recent credits include “Better Call Saul” and “Prodigal Son.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Note: due to technical difficulties, J. Keith’s audio sounds worse than usual. We’ve taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Grab your Batmobiles and thingamabobs, it’s a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Nina West is a drag performer who won Miss Congeniality on the TV’s “Rupaul’s Drag Race.” Since then, she’s focused on making kindness her brand -- especially since she’s got such a massive audience of kids watching her work. Nina’s also taking part in a national tour of the musical Hairspray later this year.

Brandon Collins is a film critic, comedian and podcaster. You can hear his reviews on the podcast “Medium Popcorn,” where his critique eventually got the show recognized by rogerebert.com and Rotten Tomatoes. Brandon also hosts the podcast “Drunk Black History” where he showcases under-discussed black historical figures -- and if you support the show on Patreon, he’ll even arrange for a certain celebrity to call and say thanks.

Our guests will answer questions about heroes from Disney, comic books and history!

What’s the Difference: Car Sick!

What’s the difference between the purpose of shocks and struts?

What’s the difference between a sign and a symptom when referring to illness?

Areas of Expertise:

Nina: 1990s Disney Animated Movies, The musical Wicked, and Columbus, Ohio.

Brandon: The movie The Dark Knight, Why Scream is the best horror film ever, and Googling

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Nina West

Brandon Collins

With guest experts:

Ron Clements and John Musker, award-winning film directors, who spent over three decades at Disney.

Eric Roberts, multiple Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated actor.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

We’re getting the band back together and playing the hits on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Kitty Felde fills in for Helen Hong as our special guest host for this week! She was previously a guest on episode 51.

John Fugelsang can be heard every weekday on SiriusXM radio as the host of the show “Tell me Everything with John Fugelsang.” He’s interviewed tons of guests from different industries for years. So what’s the secret to having great conversations with people? It all comes down to practice -- and learning how to find someone’s geek zone. 

Thao Nguyen is a songwriter, whose newest album “Temple” is out now. It was actually inspired by something that was truly special to her: her first trip to Vietnam with her mom. She’ll tell us about why the journey was so meaningful -- plus, how her onstage performance helps with her road rage issues. 

Our guests will answer trivia questions about sobs, jobs, and Bobs!

What’s the Difference: Life and Death

What’s the difference between an autobiography and a memoir?

What’s the difference between grieving and mourning?

Areas of Expertise:

Thao: The author Toni Morrison, Making vegan Phở, and 1990’s “Entertainment Tonight”

John: The Godfather films, The Beatles after their breakup, and Jesus.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Kitty Felde

John Fugelsang

Thao Nguyen

With guest experts:

Laurence Juber, multiple Grammy-winning composer and musician, who worked with several Beatles.

Bob Goen, television personality whose storied career includes hosting several game shows,  pageants, and “Entertainment Tonight.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Drop a dope beat and lock it in your pocket, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Alison Leiby is a comedian who’s written for successful shows like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” But for all her success at making people laugh, she’s actually really interested in horror… but not enough to actually watch any scary movies herself. She’ll explain more about how this led to her podcast “Ruined.”

Alison faces off against her fellow comedian Seán Devlin. He really enjoys performing pranks -- both for laughs, like when he was part of the team that put together Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm, and to affect political change, like when he helped wall off a Canadian Prime Minister from his work to make a point about food shortages. Seán’s debut comedy album “Airports, Animals'' is available now.

Our guests will answer trivia questions about freshwater mammals, fresh beats and a fresh prince!

What’s the Difference: Rare Earth!

What’s the difference between something being “rare” and something being “scarce?”

What’s the difference between the ingredients in garden soil and potting soil?

Areas of Expertise:

Alison: Otters, Mid-Aughts celebrity tabloid culture and  gossip blogs, and “The Soup” episode of the TV show “Seinfeld” (NOT “The Soup Nazi”).

Seán: The Toronto Raptors, The TV Show “The Office,” and the career of Will Smith.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Alison Leiby

Seán Devlin

With guest experts:

Dr. Nicole Duplaix, senior instructor at Oregon State University’s Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences and the founder of the International Union of Conservation for Nature’s “Otter Specialist Group.”

DJ Jazzy Jeff, actor, producer and hip-hop pioneer. 

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

The beat is fresh and so is the trivia on the Best of Hip-hop special of Go Fact Yourself! It’s a boxed set of our favorite rap trivia from over the years, including Hall of Fame MCs and DJs as experts.

Appearing in this episode:

Gina Yashere from ep. 142

Evette Dionne from ep. 121

Seán Devlin from ep. 87

Sarah Jones from ep. 167

DJ Jazzy Jeff from ep. 100

Marc Evan Jackson from ep. 176

Open Mike Eagle from ep. 165

With Guest Experts:

Ahmad: Hip-Hop artist who earned a Gold Record for his track, “Back in the Day.”

Speech: Rapper and founding member of hip-hop group Arrested Development.

DJ Jazzy Jeff: Actor, producer and Grammy-winning hip-hop pioneer.

Big Daddy Kane: Grammy-winning rapper and producer, known for his groundbreaking rhymes.

DJ Spinderella: Grammy-winning DJ, rapper and producer, known for her work as a member of the group Salt-N-Pepa.

Candyman: Rapper and producer who co-wrote and performed the hit song “Knockin’ Boots.”

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels: Founding member of Run-DMC and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Break out the hotdish -- it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Trace Beaulieu is best known for his time as one of the major creative forces behind the film-riffing series “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” Between working on that show and being nominated for two Emmys, he’s gotten more than his fair share of Hollywood. Still, he’s glad he decided to move back to his home state of Minnesota, where he can still catch a fish in the St. Croix river whenever he wants.Trace is still riffing on movies with his latest project “The Mads.”

Trace will compete against his fellow Minnesota resident: musician and playwright Jonatha Brooke. She’s got a lot of experience creating content for a live audience.That includes the play My Mother has 4 Noses which, appropriately enough, her mother inspired her to write. Like any performer, she’s missed the energy of a live crowd. To help settle that longing a little, she’s performed over 50 COVID concerts on YouTube… even if she’s had to get creative to make the audience feel real.

Our guests will answer trivia about royalty, hot dogs and cute cows.

What’s the Difference: High Anxiety!

What’s the difference between “your majesty” and “your highness” when addressing royalty?

What’s the difference between fear and anxiety?

Areas of Expertise:

Jonatha: The TV show “Schitt's Creek,” the Twitter account @M_Crouton, and Cults.

Trace: Monty Python, Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s Monster, and Minnesota Cuisine.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Trace Beaulieu

Jonatha Brooke

With guest experts:

Crouton, the most popular resident of Squirrelwood Equine Sanctuary, who has over 60,000 followers on Twitter.

Beth Hyman, co-founder of Squirrelwood Equine Sanctuary who rescued Crouton and helps run his popular Twitter account.

Andrew Zimmern, Emmy and James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer, teacher and social justice advocate.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

David Pogue is an Emmy-winning “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent and an author who’s written over 100 books (mostly covering science and technology). That’s given him some special insight; like why published tech instructions are so terrible. David’s newest book is “How to Prepare for Climate Change: A Practical Guide to Surviving the Chaos” and believe it or not, it’s actually a really hopeful read!

David will compete against his colleague and fellow Emmy-winner from “CBS Sunday Morning,”: actor and writer Nancy Giles! She’s been seen on Broadway and in plenty of movies, but a lot of people may actually have heard her work elsewhere -- as the voice for medicine commercials. Nancy also has a podcast called “The Giles Files.”

Our guests will discuss the magic of movies, superheroes and witches!

What’s the Difference: Eggs-cuse Me!

What’s the difference between an omelet and a frittata?

What’s the difference between “excuse me” and “pardon me?”

Areas of Expertise:

David: Movie special effects, The Electric Light Orchestra album “Out of the Blue,” and Steve Jobs.

Nancy: “The Bob Newhart Show,” sitcom second bananas of the 1960’s, and black hair products from the 1970s (not including the horrific Jheri Curl).

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

David Pogue

Nancy Giles

With guest experts:

Colin Chilvers, director, producer, author and special effects pioneer, who earned a BAFTA

and an Oscar for his work as Director of Special Effects on the movie Superman. (or was it Superman: The Movie?)

Erin Murphy, actor, TV host, writer, and autism advocate... who played Tabitha on the TV show “Bewitched.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

You can watch a video version of this episode! Follow us on social media (@gofactyourpod) and send us a direct message to receive the link.

In space, no one can hear you trivia! This brand new Go Fact Yourself was recorded as part of Politifact’s  “United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking.”

Hari Sreenivasan is an anchor and senior correspondent for "PBS Newshour." As a journalist, he’s dedicated most of his professional life to helping viewers understand facts from fiction. But even before that, he used to watch the news for another reason: to help his parents learn English. 

Hari’s opponent is fellow broadcaster Jessica Yellin. She began her career as a journalist with the goal of one day becoming a White House correspondent -- which she accomplished! Now she’s got a new goal: delivering “calm news” through Instagram to provide information without a panic attack. 

What’s the Difference: Just the Facts

What’s the difference between “assume” and “presume?"

What’s the difference between proof and evidence in a court of law?

Areas of Expertise:

Hari: TV shows about Mars, current events on Mars, baking chocolate chip cookies.

Jessica: David Bowie, the TV show “Dynasty” and how to do makeup in the car.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Hari Sreenivasan

Jessica Yellin

With guest experts:

Katie Stack Morgan, research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who’s currently a Deputy Project Scientist on the Mars 2020 rover mission.

Linda Evans, award-winning actor, writer and speaker who played Crystal Carrington on “Dynasty.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Vaccine-getting by YOU.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact